Machine for marking shoe uppers



Aug. 7, 1934. B. w. FREEMAN MACHINE FOR MARKING SHOE UIPERS Original Filed Nov. 12, 1930 2 Sheets-Sheet 1 &

KN N BENJAMIN h REE M 4',

36 Wu/g.

4- E. w FREEMAN 1,969,505

MACHINE FOR MARKING SHOE UPPERS Original Filed Nov. 12. 1930 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 Patented Aug. 7, 1934 UNITED STATES MACHINE FOR MARKING SHOE UPPERS Benjamin W. Freeman, Cincinnati, Ohio Application November 12, 1930, Serial No. 495,146 Renewed July 2, 1934 12 Claims.

This invention relates generally to machines for marking leather and more particularly to the mounting of dies on such machines.

Such machines of this general character have heretofore been provided with removable dies for the head thereof whereby it was possible to replace one die by another and thereby increase the repertoire of the machines. A source of great objection in the machines of the prior art has been the method of mounting the die upon the head thereof since by the mounting devices heretofore employed, the die plate has not been firmly held upon the head but was supported in such a way that it was subject to wobbling so that the desired accuracy of the marker could not be obtained. Furthermore, in the machines of this character heretofore known the die plates have been mounted upon the head at or near their centers and by devices which interfered with the surface of the die plate so that it was impossible to fasten a die element in the vicinity of the attaching means. Accordingly, it is the general object of this invention to overcome disadvantageous features of the marking machines heretofore known.

The object of this invention generally stated is, therefore, to provide a die plate for a leather marking machine.

A more specific object of this invention is to provide a device for removably mounting the die plate of a leather marking machine upon the head thereof.

A further object of this invention is to provide a die plate supported at or near its edges.

Another object of this invention is to provide a retaining device for continuously and forcibly locking a die plate upon its carrying member.

A still further object of this invention is to provide a fastening device for a die plate which shall also function as an ejector upon release thereof.

Other objects will become apparent to those skilled in the art when the following description is read in connection with the accompanying drawings; in which Figure 1 is a view in side elevation of a leather marking machine provided with a die plate constructed in accordance with this invention.

Figure 2 is a plan View of the die carrying head provided with the locking device of this invention.

Figure 3 is a sectional view taken along line 33 of Figure 2 and showing in particular the locking mechanism of this invention.

Figure 4 is a top plan view of a die plate having fastening elements in accordance with this invention.

' Figure 5 is a sectional view taken along line 55 of Figure 4. Figure 6 is a detail view of the locking device of this invention.

In accordance with this invention a die plate, which carries on one surface thereof, a device for forming an impression on leather or the like, is mounted upon a flat head which is disposed for movement between a marking position for impressing a design upon the leather and an inking or moistening position in which the die member is moved into contact with a pad carrying a marking substance such as, for instance, ink. In devices of this character it is extremely important that the die plate, which is removably mounted upon the head, should be accurately alined therewith and so rigidly attached thereto that its position on successive strokes is identically the same since, if the contrary were true, successive markings would not have the necessary conformity but would vary from each other to a slight extent thereby eliminating all accuracy. This invention, therefore, contemplates the provision of a die plate and a head for carrying the same, each of which has an accurately finished surface so that these members will lie flatly and snugly against each other to prevent wobbling of the die plate on the head. As a means for retaining the die plate upon the head this invention provides a plurality of protrusions near the edge of the die plate which are adapted. for insertion in cooperating recesses located in the head, and within each recess'is provided a locking means for engaging the protrusions which are essentially also guide members. Moreover the locking means for this invention functions also as an ejector upon release thereof to positively force the die plate away from the head.

Referring now to the drawings, the die plate of this invention is employed upon the marking machines illustrated in Figure 1 which comprises a frame-work 1 having a pair of platforms 2 and 3 and a head 4 movable between positions in which it engages each of the platforms as shown in the dotted lines of Figure 1. The platform 2 is preferably adapted to receive the work which is, for example an upper of a shoe to be marked by the machine and the p1atform'3 preferably carries a pad saturated with ink, a supply of which is transmitted to a die element 5 carried by the head 4 upon contact therebetween. As clearly illustrated in Figure 1 the head 4 has pivotally mounted thereto at each sidethereof a pair of links 6 and 7 which are mounted at theirremote ends upon the frame '1 and so disposed that they are in substantially parallel relation. By this arrangement the head 4 may be moved between the positions illustrated in Figure '1, the front and rear edges thereof following the path designated by the arrows. The link '7 is rigidly secured such as by a key 8 to a shaft 9 which extends through the frame '1 and has rigidly secured thereto on the inside of the frame ,1, a counterweight 11. The magnitude of the counprovided to overlie the bar 22 in the groove 21 60 within the groove 21 longitudinally of the head terwei'ght 11 is such as to substantially balance the movable mechanism when equipped with an average die, and accordingly the moving parts will tend to remain in any positionuntil disturbed'by an external force.

Referring now to Figures 4 and 5, it is apparent that the die element or impressing member 5 is mounted upon a plate 12 in any suitable manner so that it is rigid therewith. This arrangement makes for convenient removal and replacement of the die element 5 since each ma chine may be provided with a plurality of plates 12, each carrying a die element of different configuration. The top surface of plate 12, which is the surface opposite the die element 5, is, in ac cordance with this invention, accurately finished for co-operation and snug engagement with the lower surface 13 of the head 4 which will be accurately machined so that the two surfaces are complementary and will engage each other so closely as to eliminate wobbling. The die plate 12 is provided preferably near the ends thereof with a plurality of protrusions 14. The embodi ment illustrated is provided with two such protrusions, but it is obvious that they may be provided in any number. Each of the protrusions 14 is provided. wh n annular slot 15, the function of which will be hereinafter discussed.

As hereinbe'fore stated, the head 14 is provided with an accurately machined surface 13 for receiving the 'die "plate 12 and a plurality of openings 16 are provided therein for the reception of protrusions 14 of the die plate 12. The openings 16 are so disposed about the surface 13 that upon insertion of the protrusions 14 therein, the die plate 12 carrying the die element 5 is accurately alined in the-desired relation upon head 4 and it is obvious that the number of the openings 16 corresponds to the numberof protrusions 14 which are provided upon the die plate 12. It is, however, possible to provide a greater number of openingssuch as 16 in the surface 13 so that die plates having their protrusions in different numbers. and in different positions may be I accommodated.

'I he -head 4 comprises essentially a metallic plate 17. of suflicient weight to effectively impress the die element 5 upon the work when brought down thereupon. In the upper surface of the plate 1'7 a pair of recesses 18 and 19 are provided I which are intersected by the openings 15 and in alinement therewith. A groove 21 is out longitudinally in the upper surface of the plate 17in alinement with the recesses 18 and 19 and forms a guide-way for a slidable bar 22-. Aplate 23 is and is secured to the plate 17 by any suitable means, for instance as by screws 24, to retain the bar 22 in positionin the groove 21. 7

It is thus apparent that the bar 22 is slida-ble locking elements 25 disposed for engagement with protrusions 14 when inserted thru the openings 16. Each of the locking elements 25 comprises a vertical portion 26 which is secured to the bar 22 such asby welding and a flange 27 extending at. right angles thereon, and these may be in inclined position as illustrated in Figure 3. It is thus apparent that the flanges 27 come into engagement with the slotsl5 in the protrusions 14 upon movement of the bar 22 after the protru'sions have been inserted thru the openings 16. The flanges 27 may be inclined so that a wedging operation is performed, which tends to draw the protrusions 14 further into the openings 16 and consequently tends to draw the plate 12 tightly against the surface '13. The inclination of the flanges 27, however, performs the additional function of ejecting the protrusion 14 from the opening 16 when moved in the opposite direction, since it is apparent that the top edge of the slot 15 is engaged by the top edge of flange 27 to draw the protrusions 14 into the openings 16 but upon. movement of the bar 22 in the opposite direction the lower edge of the flange 27 engages the lower edge of the slot 15 to force the protrusions 14 out of the openings 16 and thereby force the plate 12 from the surface 13.

A spring 28 is provided in recess 18 which is seated at one end against the wall 29 of recess 18 and at the other end against a stop 31 carried by a bar 22. It is thus apparent that the spring 28 which. may be of the compression type when disposed in the position shown, is operable to continuously bias the bar 22 toward the left as shown in FigureB so that the locking elements 25 are continuously biased in that direction which will tend to draw the protrusions 14 into the openings 16 and thus there is a continuous positive force acting to draw the die plate 12 tightly against the surface 13 when the flanges 27 are in engagement with the slots 15.

The bar 22 is provided at its intermediate portion with an upwardly projecting pin 32 which extends thru a slot 33 in plate 23 and thereabove, for loose engagement such as by the slot connection 34 with lever 35. The lever 351s pivotally mounted upon a pin 36 and a spring 37 is disposed between the head of pin 36 and the upper sur: face of lever 35 whereby the latter may be moved axially of the pin to a limited extent for a purpose now to be set forth.

A protrusion 38 extends above the upper surface of the head 4 in position for cooperation with an opening 39 in lever 35 when the latter is moved in a counter-clockwise direction as shown in Figure 2 to effect a movement of bar 22 to release the protrusions 14 from the openings-16. It is thus apparent that the spring 37 permits the lever 35 to be lifted over the protrusion 38 in moving the locking elements 25 to releasing position and when the release position is reached the opening 39 will be alined with the protrusion 38 so that the spring 37 will operate to force the lever 25 downwardly to thereby effect an engagemerit between the protrusion 38 and the opening 39 which will retain the lever 35 and the bar 22 with the locking elements 25 in the released position against the action of spring 28 which latterit will be recalled, tends to continuously force the bar 22 and its cooperating elements-toward the locking position.

In the operation of the device a die plate 1-2 is selected which carries the preferreddie element and theprotrusions 14 thereof are; placed in theope'nings 16 of the head 4. v The lever 35 is then moved in a counter-clockwise position as seen in Figure 2, to effectthe movement of the locking element 25 toward. the right and draw the same clear of the openings 16 to permit the protrusions 14 to be inserted therein. The lever 35 may then be released and the spring 28 will force the lock; ing elements 25 toward the left/the flanges 27 engaging. the slots 15, and it is apparent upon such movement of the locking elements 25 to+ ward the .left' the flanges 27, being in inclined position, draw the slots 15 upwardly -into the openings 16 and the force of the spring 28 is thus continuously effective to positively draw the plate 12 upwardly against the surface 13 of the head 4. The machine is now in condition for operation and the operator feeds work to the platform 2 while with the other hand he grips the handle 40 to oscillate the head 4 between the positions shown in full and dotted lines in Figure 1, in the former of which a supply of ink is obtained on the die 5 and in the latter of which the outline of the die 5 is impressed upon the work.

It will be particularly noted that not only are the handle 40 and the lever 35 independent, but the latter lies close to the head, so that disengagement of the means holding the die on the head is avoided during the operation of the machine.

When a sufiicient quantity of work has been marked with one die, it might be desirable to employ dies of different configuration to mark other work and the die plate 12 is then released from the head 4 by movement of the lever 35 in a clockwise direction to consequently draw the bar 22 to the right against the action of spring 28. Upon such movement of the bar 22 toward the right the flange 27 cooperate with the slots 15 to force the protrusions 14 out of the openings 16 and to eject the plate 12 away from the surface 13. Another die plate carrying the different die may then be mounted upon the head 4 as hereinbefore described.

Since it is apparent that the invention is susceptible of many modifications and that many features and sub-combinations are of individual utility which have not been specifically discussed herein, it is to be understood that such modifications, the use of such features and sub-combinations as do not depart from the spirit of this invention are contemplated by and within the scope of the appended claims. It is to be further distinctly understood that the foregoing description of the embodiment illustrated in the drawings is merely illustrative and is not to be construed in a limiting sense.

Having thus described the invention, what is claimed is:

1. In a machine of the type described, a movable head provided with substantially spaced recesses, a die removably mounted on said head, protrusions on said die cooperating with said recesses to align the die on the head, and movable means mounted in said head for engaging said protrusions.

2. In a machine of the type described, a movable head provided with recesses, a die removably mounted on said head, protrusions on said die cooperating with said recesses to align the die on the head, and movable means in said head for continuously biasing said protrusions into said recesses.

3. In a machine of the type described, a movable head provided with recesses, a die removably mounted on said head, protrusions on said die cooperating with said recesses to align the die on the head, and biased wedge means engaging said protrusions to draw the same into the recesses.

4. In a machine of the type described, a movable head provided with recesses, a die removably mounted on said head, protrusions on said die cooperating with said recesses to align the die on the head, and means in said head for drawing said protrusions into said recesses and for retaining the same therein.

5. In a machine of the type described, a movable head provided with recesses, a die removably mounted on said head, protrusions on said die cooperating with said recesses to align the die on the head, and means for injecting said protrusions into said recesses upon movement thereof in one direction and for ejecting said protrusions upon movement thereof in another direction.

6. In a machine of the type described, a movable head provided with recesses, a die removably mounted on said head, protrusions on said die cooperating with said recesses to align the die on the head, and means in each of said recesses for engaging said protrusions, said means being movable to a protrusion releasing position, and means for maintaining said engaging means in said releasing position.

7. In a machine of the type described, a movable head provided with recesses, a die removably mounted on said head, protrusions on said die cooperating with said recesses to align the die on the head, each of said protrusions being provided with a shoulder, and a member having an inclined surface disposed for engagement with said shoulder upon movement of the member whereby to forcibly retain said die upon said head.

8. In a machine of the type described, a movable head provided with recesses, a die removably mounted on said head, protrusions on said die cooperating with said recesses to align the die on the head, each of said protrusions being provided with a lateral groove, and a member having an inclined surface disposed to cooperate with said groove to draw said die tightly against said head upon movement thereof in one direction, and to force said die away from said head upon movement thereof in the other direction.

9. In a machine of the type described, a movable head having a flat face, a die having a fiat face and adapted to engage the face of said head, and means operable in one direction to force said faces into tight engagement, said means being operable in another direction to force said faces apart.

10. A machine of the character described, comprising a head movable to and from marking position, a die for engaging said head, co-operating guide pins and sockets on said die and said head, respectively, and means on said head for engaging said pins adapted to secure said die on said head.

11. In a machine of the type described, a movable head, a die removably mounted on said head, a plurality of cooperating snugly fitting guide members for maintaining said die against transverse movement relative to said head, and movable means mounted in said head for engaging the guide members on said die and maintaining the same against removal from the head.

12. In a machine of the type described, a movable head, a die removably mounted on said head, a plurality of spaced recesses about said head, a plurality of protrusions on said die and in spaced relation corresponding to the spacing ofsaid recesses, said recesses and protrusions shaped to snugly fit each other, and means mounted in the head for engaging said protrusions when disposed in said recesses.

BENJAMIN W. FREEMAN. 

